Internal combustion engine



Feb. 14, 1933. 5 TERHAAR 1,897,182

' INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 9. 1930 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Am news 45* 7Z7eflA4e A TTORNEY Feb. 14, 1933. A. s. TERHAAR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April .9, 1930 IN VEN TOR. ALOYS/l/SfiYZ'Q /AAE .smh. m. m Q m 3% A TTORNEY Feb 14, 1933. A TERHAAR 1,897,182

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 9, 19:50 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illllll 7 [:IIIf' A Y. M jilin fiw k. I I g :is R

I N V EN TOR. Aaors/us" $772-$445 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES ALOYSIUS S. TERI-IAAR, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed April 9,

My invention relates to internal combustion engines, and the objects of my invention are: First, to provide an internal combustion engine having a novel and particularly effl- 5 cient link arrangement connecting the pistons with the crankshaft, whereby a multiplicity of pistons require for their operation only two throws of the crankshaft;

Second, to provide an internal combustion engine having a cross head common to all of the pistons, whereby each piston and its cylinder forms a guide and centering means for the other pistons, thereby insuring proper alinement of the pistons without causing undue wear upon the cylinder;

Third, to provide an internal combustion engine in which the force of each explosion is applied simultaneously to two points of the crankshaft so that the loads thereon are distributed, thereby permitting the use of a minimum sized crankshaft, in which the crank throws may be relatively small;

Fourth, to provide an internal combustion engine in which each piston during its power stroke acts directly to shift the. other pistons without transmitting the forces required for this purpose through the crankshaft;

Fifth, to provide an internal combusion engine having a novel and extremely e'l'icient intake and exhaust valve arrangement which permits the use of exceptionally large valves in proportion to the size of the cylinders so that quick and complete scavenging, as well as rapid intaking of the fuel mixture, is obtained;

Sixth, to provide an internal combustion engine in which the incoming fuel mixture aids in the cooling of the cylinders, thereby becoming warm so as to facilitate combustion; and

Seventh, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed internal combustion en gine which is particularly simple of construction proportional to its functions, compact and durable, efficient in its action, particularly in the application of power to the crankshaft, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

lVith these and other objects in view as well appear hereinafter, my invention con- 1930. Serial No. 442,743.

sists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of my internal combustion engine, taken through 11 of Fig. 3, with parts and portions in elevation; Fig. 2 is a sectional view looking in the opposite direction to Fig. 1, through 2-2 of Fig. 3, with parts and portions in elevations; Fig. 3 is an end elevational view with parts and portions broken away and in section; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the cross head, master connecting rod, and portions of the connecting rods; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the connecting rods; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through 66 of Fig. 3, with parts and portions in elevation. P

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

Cross head 1, and pistons 2, master rods 3, connecting rods 4: and 5, crankshaft (3, cas ing 7 cylinders 8, intake valves 9, exhaust valves 10, intake valve stems 11, exhaust Valve stems 12, intake valve operating rods 13, exhaust valve operating rods 14:, springs 15, cam shaft 16, cams 17 and 18, cam shaft driving mechanism 19, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel internal combustion engine.

My internal combustion engine is arranged in units of four cylinders. For each unit, a cross head 1 is provided, which comprises two straight parallel disposed rods 10. held apart at their central portions by an integral web 1?). At each of the four ends of the cross head 1 there is provided a piston 2 which is integral therewith. 95

The web 16 is provided with a transversely extending bearing 10 arranged half-way between the rods 1a. A journal pin 3a is mounted in the bearing 10. Mounted upon the ends of a journal pin 3a, and extending downwardly along either side of the cross:

head 1- is-a pair of master rods 3 which extend in other. e H h At theextended lower ends, of the master parallel disposed relation to each rod 3, said rods are providedwith alincd bearing portions 36, so arranged that the ,Near the under. side i of bifurcated end 4a of a connecting rod 4 may be inserted therebetween so as to straddle one of the master rods, as shown best in Flg. 4.

A pin 4?) extendsthrough the bearingsi3band through corresponding bearingstc provided in the bifurcated end 4a. The connecting rod- 4 extends upwardly and to one side of the master rod 3, where'it'is "secured toathrow 6a ofa crankshaft 6;

' thecrosshead 1, themaster rodsf3 are'provided with a' second set of alined bearings 30, which are so arranged that the bifurcated end-5aof a second connectingro'd 5 similarly constructed to the rod 4, may be insertedtherebetween so as to straddle the master rod and straddled by,

the connecting rod 4. A'journalpin 56 holds the bearings 56 provided in the bifurcated end 5a in alinement with the bearings This arrangement ofi'sets the-connectingrod 5 relative to the connecting.rod4,'jso that said connecting rod 5may join a second a throw 6b of the crankShaftQasshownbestiin' Fig. 1'.'"-"- The centralportions of thejcross head,

master rods, and connecting rods, as well as the crankshaft, are allenclosed bya' suitable casing 7.

' The casing 7 is provided withd f ouropen- V ings 7a,, each of which receives a corresponding end of the cross head 1a. Securedfover "each openlng 7a is a cylinder .8 which-receives the corresponding piston-2.' The cylinders8 are thus arranged in diametrically disposed pairs. As the crosshead'l is supported at each end by a piston 2, said pistons may have a relatively short skirt for they are; accurately heldin proper ali ement withtheir respective cylinders by'the cross head 1;., I

' Extending along the rean'side-jof each cylinder j 8, and having but slightlyjsmallerdiameter is an-intake passageor conduit 8a.

The passages 8a are preferahlyintegral with the corresponding cylinders 8. Eachopenwith said portion of'the openings Ya' andthe walls of the casing, 7, forms passages 17 (Z,

ing a is large'enough "to include the inner end of the corresponding intake conduit 8a. The portion ofeach opening? a opposite the intake conduit 8a is separated'from the.in--

terior of the casing 7 by a partition 7 0 which,

Which communicate with the intake conduits 8a, of adjacent pairs of cylinders 8'. s

The passages 'Tddinside joflthe casing 7 are linked together by a condu it 76 extending longitudinally within the cross head 1 along the rear side ofthe casingf'fa The'conduit 7e connected intermediate that is,

between the passages 7 d to the discharge end of a carburetor or the like, not shown.

The extended end of each intake conduit passage 8a is flush with the corresponding cylinder 8, and this extended end is provided with a valve seat 8?), adapted to receive an intake valve 9, which is shiftable beyond the end of the passageSa.

The extended end of the cylinder 8 and its passage 8a is provided with a cap or head portion 80 extending ithereover, forming a firing chamber 8d. The greatest height of the firing chamberSd is o'ver the passage 8a.

From here, thehead'slopes toward the'end of the cylinder 8 soajs to-reduce the size of the chamber 842? toa minimum. The portion of thecylinderhead a-bovethe intake valve 9 p is: provided, with a valve opening 86 con} openingSe. V 7 i v To facilitatethecooling of the exhaust proper relation with the valve 10, saidexhaust valve is providedon itsexposed or outer face with radiating fins 10a, Likewise, the head and exposed walls of the cylinder 8 are providedwithcooling fins 8f or maybe provided with a waterjacket, depending upon whether the engine design is for air'cooled or water cooled systems. V The side walls of the head 8?) ofeachcylinder head 8 are provided with openings 85] for receivingspark-plugs, not shown.

in As shownin Fig- ,3, one side of each intake conduit 8a is formedlbythe wallof the corresponding cylinder 8. Thus, fuel passclosed' byan loo ing through the conduit 8a not only cools the cylinder .8, but is heated thereby so as to facilitate-combustion.

-;Near the upper end of each intake conduit 8 8a there-is provided a web 872, supporting a sleeve 87', in concentric relation to thesaid intake conduit 8a, and which is lubricated by oil conducted thro gh suitable'passages in the web-8k. a

Slidable within the sleeve 8 is a tubular stem 11 ofthe'intake valve 9, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 6. The intake valve stem 11 in turn formsa sleeve for the exhaust valve stem .12," which extends therethrough, as shownybest in Fig. 2; p

Thejexhaust valve stem protrudes from the intake valve 9 andis securedto the exhaust valve 10. Each intake valve stem 11 extends approximately to the base or supported end ofthecorrespondingpassage 8a, and is removably secured to a continuing intake valve stem 13 whichalso forms :a sleeve of smaller diameter'than the intake valve stem The inner end of each exhaust valve stem 12 stops short of the extended end of the corresponding continuing stem 13, and said exhaust valve stem is secured to an exhaust valve con uing rod 14, which passes through the con--nuing stem 13.

Between the end of the stem 13 and the exhaust valve stem 12, there is provided a spring 15. which presses outwardly on the exhaust valve stem and inwardly upon the intake valve stem so as to hold the valves 9 and 10 against their respective seats.

The continuin stem 13 with the continuing rod 14: therein extends through a sleeve 7/ provided in the wall of the passage 7d.

The continuing rod 14 extends from the end of the sleeve portion 13a of the continuing stem 13. This extended portion is widened and formed into a bifurcated portion l i-a. The extended end of each leg of the bifurcation is provided with enlarged loop portions 14?) which fit around a cam shaft 16. The sides of the loop portions 1% remote from the continuing rod 14; are provided with inwardly extending projections 1 10 which are adapted to ride upon exhaust valve cams 17 secured to a cam shaft 16 extending transversely in equally spaced relation to adjacent pairs of intake conduits 8a. The continuing rods 14 of the opposed cylinders are identical except that the bifurcated end 14a of one of them fits on the outer side of the bifurcated portion of the other, as shown best in Fig. 2. At the inner end of the sleeve portion 18a, each continuing stem 13 is provided with a bifurcated extension 137). The bifurcation 13b is arranged in a plane at right angles to the bifurcation 14?).

Supported between the arms of the bifurcated portion 137).. is a loop 130. which is in the same plane as the loop 145. The loop 130 fits aroiind the cam shaft 16, and is provided with a cam ridingprojection 13d arranged on the opposite side of the cam shaft from the projections 140. The projection 13d is adapted to ride upon a cam 18.

The continuing? stem 18 opposite the one just described identical thereto except that the two loops 130 are provided. arranged in spaced relation to each other, above and below the arms of the bifurcations so as to straddle the first described loop 130, and fit between said first described loop 130 and the loops 1 17), as shown best in 2.

The cam shaft 16 is rotated by a suitable driving me-ciianism 19. synchronizing the movement of said cam shaft with tie crankshaft. Tb driving mechanism 19 is ar- L119 ranged along the rear side of the casing 7.

It can readily be seen that by increasing the length of the cvlinders 8 and forming packing; joints around the arms of the cross head 1. the pistons 2 may be readily made double-acting so that with very little increase Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged in opposed sets,

pistons for said cylinders, a cross head con-" necting a plurality of said pistons, master rods connected to and supported by said cross head, a crankshaft, and connecting rods arranged upon said master rods so as to transmit movement thereof to said crankshaft.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged in opposed sets, pistons for said cylinders, a cross head connecting a plurality of said pistons, a. master rod connected to and supported by said cross head, a crankshaft, and a pair of connecting rods, one arranged at the extended end, and the other arranged intermediate the ends of said master rod, said connecting rods joined to difierent throws of said crankshaft, where by movement of said master rod causes simultaneous action of said connecting rods upon said crankshaft.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged in opposed pairs, pistons for said cylinders, a cross head rigidly connected to pistons in opposed cylinders, the one piston forming a guide for alining the opposite piston, a master rod connected intermediate the ends of said cross head and' supported thereby, a crankshaft, and connecting rods arranged upon said master rod so as to transmit movement thereof to said crankshaft.

41. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged in opposed pairs, pistons for said cylinders, a cross head rigidly connected to pistons in opposed cylinders, the one piston forming a guide for alining the opposite piston, a master rod connected intermediate the ends of said cross head and supported thereby, a crankshaft, and a pair of connecting rods, one arranged the one end and one arranged intermediate the ends of the master rod, said connecting rods joined to different throws of said crankshaft, whereby movement of said master rod and said cross head causes simultaneous action of said connecting rods upon said crankshaft.

5. In an internal combustion engine unit, I.

a I a 7 1,897,182 f 1 a plurality ofcylinders arranged in oppositely disposed pairs, the members-of each pair occupying a common axis, said pairs of cyl inders arranged with their axes in adjacent, f parallel disposed relation, pistons reciprocally mounted in said cylinders, a cross head common to all of said pistons, a master rod "supported'by said cross head, connecting v -rods joined to said master rod, and a crank V shaft associated with said connecting rods. 6. In an internal combustion engine unit, 7

a cross head including a plurality of double ended straight arm members,and an integral web connecting said arm'm'embers intermedi-c ate theirends, said arms arranged in parallel,

adjacent relation, a-piston for" each end of each arm member, cylinders for'said pistons, f

said pistons and cylindersforming"guide k meansfor limiting said cross head to a true 7 reciprocal movement, a master rod rotatab-ly connected with said cross-:headflat said web portion, connecting rods joined to said masv ter rod, and acrankshaft connected with said connecting rods. 1 3 I 7. In an internal combustion engine unit,

a reciprocable cross head, pistons andcylin I ders associated therewith,;-a'master rod ro- 7 tatably connected with said cross head, a

* "crank shaft including a pair-of angularly T disposed crank throws, a pair of connecting "rods linking said crank :throws with said. vmaster rod, saidconnecting'rods connected with said link member so as to act in opposite directions, whereby said link member nections of said connecting rods therewith.

8. In aninternalcombustionengine unit, a reciprocable cross head, a master rod rotatably connected with said cross head, a crankshaft, a pair of connecting rods connecting said crankshaft with said master, rod: in 'spaced'relation so as to' act in opposite direction near the opposite ends of said master A rod, whereby said masterrod is provided with a rotatable axis intermediate the con-' nections of said connecting rods r a I 9. In an internal combustion engine unit,

a reoiprocable cross head, a master rod rotatably connected with said cross head and ex i 7 tending laterally therefrom, acrankshaft,

a pair of connecting'rods' connected to said master rod, the one at its end and the other near its rotatable axis, whereby said master rod has a second rotatable axis intermeitliate itsconnection with said connecting r0 s.

'In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 31st day of March'1'930. f r i 50 ALOYSIUS TERHAAR,

T fulcrums about an'axis intermediate the coni 

